Obasanjo emphasised that according to the provisions outlined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the responsibility of determining the remuneration for political officeholders, including legislators, lies with the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). However, he lamented that lawmakers have taken it upon themselves to fix their own salaries, undermining both the Constitution and morality.
"Most of the people who are supposed to be operationalising or managing and seeing the constitution and democracy move forward are actually the ones who undermine the constitution," Obasanjo remarked. He highlighted that elected individuals, in accordance with the constitution, should have their emoluments fixed by the RMAFC. Yet, lawmakers disregard this provision and pass laws to determine their own salaries, which he deemed not only unconstitutional but also immoral.
Obasanjo's comments shed light on the issue of lawmakers' self-determined salaries, raising concerns about the need for transparency, accountability, and adherence to constitutional provisions. The role of the RMAFC in setting the remuneration for political officeholders becomes crucial in ensuring a fair and just system.
This critique from a former president adds to the ongoing debate surrounding the proper remuneration of elected officials in Nigeria. It calls for a reconsideration of the practices that allow lawmakers to set their own salaries and highlights the importance of upholding the law for the betterment of the country's democratic institutions.